Pig’s trotter vermicelli soup boiled with traditional Chinese medicine at Wumiao Temple — greaseless, healthy, and nourishing

Text & Photos /Shadow

Wumiao Temple snacks are somewhat well-known in Kaohsiung. Following our previous introduction of Xiao Lai’s rice cake, we’re back at Wumiao Temple to feature the pig’s trotter vermicelli soup we originally wanted to try last time but arrived after it had closed. Many people come to Wumiao Temple to pray and then have a bowl of pig’s trotter vermicelli to ward off bad luck. Though the shop hasn’t been open for long, on this street, it’s the only place that sells it — and it quickly became popular. It has even been featured in media reports since then.

The pig’s trotter vermicelli soup here features a clear broth simmered with traditional Chinese herbs, which is quite different from the braised pig’s trotters in Pingtung’s Wanluan or the boiled ones in Liugang — let’s give it a try.

We usually come here after work, and this time the shop was almost closing too — they were already putting the chairs away. We were just in time before they stopped serving, and the staff prepared our food.

The shop keeps its menu simple, offering just a few items. We ordered pork lard fried rice, pig’s trotter vermicelli soup, sliced pig’s trotters, and a side of blanched greens.

Pork lard fried rice – NT$30 / large
Pork lard fried rice used to be a beloved dish for earlier generations during tough times — just mix white rice with pork lard and soy sauce, stir well, and it’s ready to eat. Shadow had never tried it before but had heard family elders mention it and knew a bit about it. With the aroma of pork lard and the saltiness of the soy sauce, even in times of scarcity, this might have been the most delicious meal available. Perhaps this bowl of rice reminds us to appreciate what we have and remember our roots.

Dry pig’s trotter vermicelli – NT$75 / small
We’ve tried many local snacks, but it’s rare to find one that serves pig’s trotter vermicelli. Here, the trotters aren’t served in large chunks but are chopped into small, bite-sized pieces for easy eating. The portion looks generous, though a bit of a shame that there were more bones than meat in our bowl.

The texture of the vermicelli itself is just right — not too soft or too hard. Topped with fried shallots and minced garlic, it’s fragrant but lacks some depth in flavor. My partner felt the fried shallots were a little greasy and left a slight dryness in the mouth. Reducing the fried shallots and increasing the saltiness might improve the taste.

Sliced pig’s trotters – NT$60 / small
The pig’s trotters boiled in traditional Chinese medicine look quite similar to the water-boiled ones. They’re chopped into small pieces for convenience, which is considerate. The shop also provides a dipping sauce with minced garlic and soy sauce. Once you taste it, you’ll find it’s really not much different from the Liugang water-boiled pig’s trotters.

Blanched greens – NT$30
The owner was very generous and gave us extra greens even as they were about to close. The greens that day were water spinach, tossed with garlic and pork lard — quite tasty.

The dry vermicelli comes with a small bowl of pig’s trotter soup.

This is one of the rare places in Kaohsiung that serves pig’s trotter vermicelli boiled with traditional Chinese herbs. The greaseless trotters make it a lighter option for modern diners. Wumiao Temple is bustling with worshippers — after praying, head over here for a bowl of trotter vermicelli to turn your luck around. Whether you believe in superstitions or just enjoy traditional customs, one thing’s for sure: food is essential, and when you’re hungry, you should eat. Next time you visit Wumiao Temple, don’t miss trying this pig’s trotter vermicelli. Recommended to friends.

Address: No. 53, Wumiao Road, Lingya District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-7227234
Business Hours: 10:00–20:00
 

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